Common Concerns - I'm Worried About...

Most people tend to worry about their finances: Will I have enough? What if I lose money in my retirement account? How do I balance my retirement savings with other priorities? This section discusses these worries and provides key points to keep in mind when taking action.

I’m not ready to leave the career behindNot everyone looks forward to retirement, especially if you have found an identity and purpose in work. Here are the emotions that may be behind the reluctance – and how you can get past them.

Crunching the costs of caregiving If you anticipate that you might be in the role of family caregiver sometime in your lifetime — or if you already find yourself taking care of a loved one — reach out to others and take steps now to preserve your financial and emotional well-being.

A key piece to your estate planIt’s no secret that a will is one of the most important documents you’ll ever complete. But did you know you can supplement your will with another essential document? A letter of final instruction is a personal document that, upon your passing, guides your family on little things that wouldn’t necessarily go into a legal document.

Not Being Able to Save Enough for RetirementMaybe you’ve heard how much money you’ll need to retire, and the figure seems overwhelming. But you have lots of years ahead of you to save. Here’s how to estimate your retirement needs and start a smart savings and investment plan now.

Help make your savings last a lifetime
Once you’ve estimated your retirement expenses, determined your retirement income sources, and started a strategy for investing your income sources, the next step is to understand various strategies for withdrawing your retirement savings and decide which withdrawal options make sense for your situation.

Losing Money in My Retirement AccountsIt’s not unusual to be anxious if you’re relatively new to investing. In addition, women tend to be more risk-averse than men. But you will likely need to take some risk to accumulate enough for retirement. If you think long term, continue to invest in your 401(k) or other retirement account, and don’t try to time the market, you’ll be a better, and calmer, investor.

Balancing Retirement Savings With Other PrioritiesPerhaps the toughest financial choice is whether to pay for college or save for retirement. Fund your retirement first. But if you do want to contribute to college expenses, learn the right (and wrong) ways to do it.

Do I Need Long-Term Care InsuranceLong-term care insurance helps pay for what Medicare and traditional health insurance policies don’t cover: nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home healthcare. The best time to start shopping for a policy is when you’re in your 50s. Most people purchase policies that cover a four- to five-year span.